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Men convicted of Joss Stone murder plot win appeal

LONDON (AP) — Two men convicted of plotting to kill soul singer Joss Stone have had their prison sentences reduced on appeal.

Junior Bradshaw and Kevin Liverpool were arrested in June 2011 near the singer's house in southwest England. A sword, three knives, two hammers, masks and gloves were found in their car.

They were convicted last year.

The Court of Appeal judges on Tuesday said Liverpool would be eligible for parole in December 2017, but stressed "we are not ordering that the appellant be released ... Far from it." He was originally sentenced to life with a minimum term of 10 years, eight months.

The judges also reduced the sentence for Bradshaw, who they described as "a foot soldier" in the failed plot, to 10 years from 18.